Topics
Observation-based shAstra-s (eg. खगोलम्, भूगोलम् अधि) are excluded from this section. Topics such as deva-s, brahma, (to some extant) dharma are beyond direct observation and inference.
Some such speculation is intended to broadly teach us about how to think about particular groups of devatA-s at a gross level, without necessarily insisting on accuracy of each detail.
Towards non-speculation
Some topics have moved from the realm of speculation to that of observation and inference. Examples:
- Shape of earth
- Orbits of the planets
- Age of the universe
- Evolution of life
- Origin of elements in the universe.
Importance measurement
शब्द-प्रमाण-प्रयोगे श्रीमद्-वेङ्कटनाथार्यः
“न प्रधान-विरोधः स्याद्
ईदृशानवधारणे” ।
इति शिक्षयितुं शिष्यान्
प्राचां क्वचिद् अनिश्चयः ॥